I need a simple guide...

[Erin Go Braugh]

I don't really know the difference between the branches of socialism/communism. All I know is that I will never be a Stalinist or Maoist, so don't even bother posting about those. :rolleyes: I'm so confused, could someone help!

[Zingu]

Errr please don't post those big images:

I don't know where to find the links in the marxists.org archive so I'll to explain.


Most of these ideologies branch out from Karl Marx's political philosophy; well, Marxism.
Later on, things called "paradigms", different versions of Marxism so to speak caught on.
These paradigms are simply different ways of the process for society to evolve into Communism.
There are two main branches; Reformist and Revolutionary.

Reformist ideologies consist of Social Democracy and Democractic Socialism, believing that Socialism can be brought in through peaceful reform.

Revolutionary idealogies contain three main groups; Syndaclism (worker unionism), Anarchism and Marxism.

Under these there are alot, and can be sort of "spliced together" Anarchro-Communism, Anarcho-Syndaclism ect..

Under Marxism though, you have the Authoritarian ideologies like Marxist Leninism, Maoism and Stalinism, all three believe in a "Revolutionary vanguard" to guide the working class in the revolution; Stalinism is really just an offshoot of Leninism, Maoism, if I am correct indoctrinates that the peasentry class is also revolutionary, but I think Chairman Mao ( a forum member) can tell you alot more about that.

Anarchism calls for the "smashing of the state" and setting up the stateless and classless society almost overnight.

Marxism calls for the working class to seize control of the state and operate it in the "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" until class anatagonisms dissaper and Communism comes along meaning the withering away of the state.

Syndaclism states that the working class can take over society through highly organized labor unions, with enough worker's power unified, they could stop the economy and work it to their own interests.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Learn to spell. It's Anarcho-Syndicalism It's Anarchist-Communism or Anarcho-Communism.

Reforms main idea is not about peace, it's about changing the system from within, through slow gradual changes. Reformists are not per se pacifists.

Its's way to generalising to say that anarchists expect that the anarchist society will happen overnight.

Whetever those are the three main branches of revolutionary thought is questionable.

[Zingu]

I have a messy keyboard, it is hard to define the ideologies, its best I think just to learn them one by one.

I meant overnight in contrast to the Marxist way of the "withering away" of the state.

Its whatever not whetever Non-Sectarian :D

[MiniOswald]

Yes zingu pretty well explained as a break down but it was a rather sweeping description of anarchism, i take it thats not your 'prefered' leaning?

[Djehuti]

Stalinism -- a counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie movment that under socialist/communist banners, often under very brutal forms, develops the capitalist society in a mostly agrar country.


Leninism -- An ideologization of av Marx, Engels and Lenins (amongst others) thought in a system with certain dogmas about "communist" tactics and and tasks for the revolutionary (pseudo)party. The most important of these is usually:
a) Support to "national liberation movements",
b) The partipication of communists in parlamentary elections,
c) Work within the unions, and
d) Support of anti-fascism (proletarian support/submission before bourgeoisie democratic movements in their struggle against fascist/dictatorial bourgeoisie movements. Leninism came to be an important ingredient for the victory of the contra-revolutionary stalinism after the failure of the russian revolution at the 30ties, and within every later stalinist movement and groups, but also within the trotskyite and leninist traditions.

The supporters of the leninist ideology often also understands pro-capitalist states as the stalinist russian, the chinese or the northkorean as in some or many ways "progressive" and for the proletarians worth to defend.


Marxism -- The scientific communist theory about the conditions for the liberation of the proletarians.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Stalinism -- a counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie movment that under socialist/communist banners, often under very brutal forms, develops the capitalist society in a mostly agrar country.

However you may disagree, but be a little less biased.

[Zingu]

How about this, one person from each ideology explain their ideology, being as biased as possible, then we get an balanced responce!

[NovelGentry]

Marxism from an extremely biased perspective:

It is the only ideology that makes sense, all other will fail.

Really, you're best just to make an effort to learn the differences and intricacies of each. There's no shortcut to understanding the entire left political spectrum.

[Big Boss]

Well said. Marxism in it's purity is the only idea that makes sense and that is the one that I follow.

[Big_Don]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2005, 01:08 AM
Stalinism -- a counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie movment that under socialist/communist banners, often under very brutal forms, develops the capitalist society in a mostly agrar country.


Leninism -- An ideologization of av Marx, Engels and Lenins (amongst others) thought in a system with certain dogmas about "communist" tactics and and tasks for the revolutionary (pseudo)party. The most important of these is usually:
a) Support to "national liberation movements",
b) The partipication of communists in parlamentary elections,
c) Work within the unions, and
d) Support of anti-fascism (proletarian support/submission before bourgeoisie democratic movements in their struggle against fascist/dictatorial bourgeoisie movements. Leninism came to be an important ingredient for the victory of the contra-revolutionary stalinism after the failure of the russian revolution at the 30ties, and within every later stalinist movement and groups, but also within the trotskyite and leninist traditions.

The supporters of the leninist ideology often also understands pro-capitalist states as the stalinist russian, the chinese or the northkorean as in some or many ways "progressive" and for the proletarians worth to defend.


Marxism -- The scientific communist theory about the conditions for the liberation of the proletarians.
Erin Go Braugh,learn from the quote above ^^^^ Also use the link there very helpful!